Farm Animals

Farmed Pig Ear Biting and Welfare

Ear biting in group-housed pigs is a significant welfare problem related to similar root causes as tail biting, requiring systems-level solutions.

Key Facts

Ear biting causes wounds and infections that are painful and attract further biting
Root causes include high stocking density, inadequate enrichment, and nutritional deficiencies
Ear wounds can become severely infected causing systemic illness
Iron deficiency in piglets increases ear and tail biting susceptibility
Management interventions include enrichment, space, and temporary separation of biters

Welfare Considerations

Ear biting causes acute and chronic pain in victim pigs and indicates a systems problem in housing management. Like tail biting, it is a symptom of unmet behavioural needs. Addressing root causes through enrichment, space, and nutrition prevents ear biting more effectively than treating symptoms.

What You Can Do

Support pig welfare standards addressing root causes of biting behaviour
Advocate for enrichment requirements as the primary prevention strategy
Choose pork from farms with documented low biting incidence